FRC: SENATE RESUMES DEBATE ON PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BILL WASHINGTON DC, Dec. 1, 1995 -- The U.S. Senate is expected to resume debate on the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (HR 1833) as early as Monday, December 4. Family Research Council supports the partial-birth abortion ban and will oppose any weakening amendments to the bill. The Senate voted November 7 to refer the bill to the Judiciary committee for a public hearing. On November 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to educate the Senators about this procedure. Senators heard dramatic testimony from a number of witnesses including the President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr. Ellison. Delivering key testimony, Ellison dispelled the claim of an abortionist who testified last summer before a House subcommittee, that anesthesia given to the mother as part of the procedure protects the fetus from pain, and that it causes "brain death" in the fetus. Others testifying about the procedure were former abortion nurse Brenda Shafer, Dr. Pamela Smith, Dr. Nancy Romer, Helen Alvare, Jeannie Wallace French, and Professor Douglas Kmiec No amendments were offered to the bill, and it automatically returned to the Senate calendar November 28. As early as Monday, December 4th, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS) and Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), the prime sponsor of the bill, may take up the House-passed bill on the Senate floor. The House has already voted overwhelmingly on November 1 to pass the bill by more than a 2-1 margin (288-139). In the Senate, it is expected that the bill will receive support from a diverse group of senators with various histories on pro-life votes. FRC will be urging Senators to oppose a series of misleading amendments designed to gut the substance of the legislation.